Singapore - Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison both shot 9-under 62 on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the Singapore Open.
The 30-year-old Molinari, who has won two European Tour tournaments, holed six birdies for a 29 on the final nine holes at the Sentosa Golf Club.
"My putting was excellent on Thursday," the Italian said. "I holed everything inside 10 feet."
Y.E. Yang (63) was in third, one stroke behind, while Japan's Daisuke Maruyama (64) was fourth. Four others were at 65. Graeme McDowell (68) is six strokes behind the leaders while Phil Mickelson (71) trails by nine.
Mickelson said Singapore's hot and humid tropical weather may have helped fuel the day's low scores.
"I think when it's warm like this the ball flies straighter and it is easier to play," the American said. "Your muscles feel lose and you swing it much freer and that should equate to lower scores."
The tournament, marking its 50th anniversary, is using both the Serapong course and the Tanjong course to accommodate 204 players.
First-round scores from the US$6 million Singapore Open at the par-71 Serapong and Tanjong courses on Thursday:
62 - James Morrison (ENG), Edoardo Molinari (ITA)
63 - Y.E. Yang (KOR)
64 - Daisuke Maruyama (JPN)
65 - Atthaphon Prathumanee (THA), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Lee Sung (KOR)
66 - Oliver Fisher (ENG), Christian Nilsson (SWE), Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Peter Karmis (RSA), Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Jeev Milkha Singh (IND), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP), Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Miles Tunnicliff (ENG), Lam Zhiqun (SIN), Tom Lewis (ENG), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Zaw Moe (MYN), Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN)
67 - Colin Montgomerie (SCO), Thomas Aiken (RSA), Michael Hoey (NIR), Rikard Karlberg (SWE), Daniel Chopra (SWE), Scott Hend (AUS), Jamie Donaldson (WAL), Shane Lowry (IRL), Retief Goosen (RSA)
Selected:
68 - Graeme McDowell (NIR), Nick Dougherty (ENG)
69 - Padraig Harrington (IRL), Thomas Bjorn (DEN), Justin Rose (ENG)
70 - Anthony Kim (USA)
71 - Camilo Villegas (COL), Phil Mickelson (USA)
72 - Ernie Els (RSA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)
73 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP)